Stefan Cumbo on for Adrian Lopez
Matthew Massetti on for Aaron Collado
Damian Rocca on for Justin Collado

A balmy, but blustery afternoon saw Angels FC take the field against a still unbeaten Gib Utd side, that debuted their yellow second strip. United were missing a number of players through injury, most notably Lee Muscat with a back injury. Keeper ‘Chino’ Goldwin was also out through injury but in Joe Borg we have another excellent keeper to guard our goal, as events would prove. Manager Randal Aldorino was forced into a somewhat unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation due to the personnel changes and took to the field in the following formation.

United in an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation

Angels themselves were also a number of players down. Namely through a series of three red cards in their previous match. Likewise both manager and assistant manager also had to watch the game from the stands. Gibraltar United proved to be superior to their opponents from the kick off though. The passing of the ball was fluid, and passages of play were swift and accurate. Indeed it was United who had the early chances. Angels were compact in the center of the field and tried to deny both Gracia and Mañasco space and time on the ball. But our tenacious midfielders won the battle time and time again and constant balls were being pinged to Adrian Lopez on one wing and Victor on the other. United’s first clear opportunity came with a foul near the edge of the box. Full back, Kenneth Chipolina, unleashed his left footed cannon but the ball ricocheted off the wall and into touch.

Chipolina takes the free kick!

Angels were reduced to sporadic advances that were easily dealt with by our defence. The central quartet of Collado-Buhagiar-Gracia-Mañasco easily controlled the central area of the pitch and quickly distributed the ball to the flanks for a quick transition from defence to attack. One of these attacks resulted in a United corner that was well worked. Following a routine straight off the training pitch, a short corner between Buhagiar and Justin Collado resulted in a faked cross that saw the Angels defence bunched up in their penalty spot while the ball was deftly passed to an onrushing Carl Thomas from deep. A controlled finish saw him blast the ball to the empty net behind the diving Angels keeper. In all honesty it was what United deserved as they entered the dressing room one up!

The goal scorer receives the plaudits from his team mates.

The second half followed pretty much the same pattern. United dominant in all areas of the pitch…except one! Quicker to the ball and harder into the tackle, Gib Utd player’s surged forward. Not before Joe Borg made an outstanding one on one save to keep the score at 1-0. Aaron Collado was soon substituted as he aggravated a back injury and Matthew Massetti took to the field. Earlier substitute Stefan Cumbo was to provided the first of a hat trick of unbelievable misses as he missed a one on one with the Angels keeper after some deft footwork, already his trademark! Justin Collado made a similar error and Aden Victor likewise spurned a chance that was harder to miss than score. United supporters in the stands, that once again came out in force, began to get apprehensive, was the old football adage of ruing missed chances going to haunt them? Local sports news outlet 5 point 4 seemed to think so:

However this was not to be the case. Following a series of quick counter attacks, Angels to their credit went forwards in trying to salvage a point, Andrew Lopez cut in from the flank and with his left foot put the result beyond any doubt. 2-0 and a fully justified result that in all honesty should have been by a larger margain. 7 days to recover now until our next match against Leo FC. Still unbeaten and still joint top of the table.